The Humboldt Crabs are a collegiate summer baseball team located in Arcata, California. Playing in every season since they were founded in 1945 by Lou Bonomini, later joined by Ned Barsuglia, the Crabs are the oldest continually-operated summer collegiate baseball team in American baseball.[2][3] Through the 2019 season the Crabs have a total record of 2557 wins and 803 losses. The Crabs did not play the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 2024, the Crabs are charter members of the newly-formed Pacific Empire League.
Crabs games are broadcast on KEJB 1480 AM, the Humboldt Crabs YouTube Channel, and stats are live on GameChanger App. Most games also include the Crab Grass Band, formed in 1983, that play songs in between innings.
Brief background
Originally the Eureka Paladini Crabs, named for the Paladini Fish Company who sponsored the team from 1945 to 1947.
In the 77-year history of the Humboldt Crabs, over 300 players have continued on to play professional baseball, with over 60 former Crabs going all the way to the Major Leagues.[4]Dane Iorg played for the Crabs from 1968 to 1970.[5][6]John Oldham, a Crabs pitcher in 1952–53, was the first to make it all the way, playing for the Cincinnati Reds in 1956.[7]Leo Rosales, who pitched for the 2002 Crabs,[8] was called up to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008.[9] 2003 Crabs infielder Brett Pill was called up to the San Francisco Giants in 2011, and was on the team's 2012 roster as a 1st baseman.[10][11] Most recently, Vinny Pestano, Bradley Zimmer, and Mike Redmond are all former Crabs.
Their best season, record-wise, was 1985 when the team won 46 consecutive games to start the season. Future Major Leaguers Mike Harkey, Eric Gunderson, Steve Olin, and Scott Chiamparino led a dominant pitching staff.
In 2007, the team's 63rd consecutive season, the Crabs overall season record was 42 - 12;[15] in 2008, the Crabs drew an average of 874 fans to the ball park and went 35 - 13 for the season;[16] in 2009 the Crabs record was 48–11;[17] in their 66th season, 2010, the Crabs went 43 - 9;[18][19] the 2019 team went 33–16. Find stats on the GameChanger app.
The Humboldt Crabs are a non-profit, community-oriented organization. Its mission is four-fold:
To promote family entertainment by providing high-quality summer collegiate baseball games to the public at a reasonable price;
To provide talented collegiate-level baseball players with a positive summer baseball experience;
To support youth sports programs (with an emphasis on baseball or softball) in the Humboldt County area with contributions of funding and/or equipment as funds permit in addition to annual baseball skills camps and clinics operated by Humboldt Crabs players and coaches;
To preserve and build the tradition of Humboldt Crabs Baseball.
"Coaches Award" - Kevin Morsching/Scott Heinig Memorial Award: Cubby Cortez and Kawana Soares
Organization
Humboldt Crabs Fan Appreciation Day 2010
Humboldt Crabs Baseball, Inc is a 501(c)(4) community-owned organization. A volunteer board of directors rely on the support of community members & sponsors to keep the Humboldt Crabs Baseball operation functioning.
Note: The board of directors is subject to change from year to year. Current serving members include Scarlet Palmer, David Sharp, Vikki Rossi, Matt Filar, Ellen Barthman, Erik Fraser, Roger Lorenzetti, Larry Zerlang, Michelle Briggs Butler, Neil Butler, and Brice Gummersall.
Far West League
The Crabs joined the Far West League (FWL), which had ten teams participating in the 2011 season. The five-team FWL North Division included the Humboldt Crabs, Nor Cal Pirates, Redding Colt 45s, Nevada Bullets (formerly Reno Aces), and Southern Oregon RiverDawgs. The five-team FWL South Division included the Atwater Aviators, Fontanetti's Athletics, Neptune Beach Pearl, California Glory, and Fresno Cardinals. The Crabs were part of the West Coast League/Tri-State[22] (which was associated with the West Coast League in the Pacific Northwest) then merged with the Pacific West Baseball League to form the FWL. (The California Seals were originally an eleventh team in the FWL but are on hiatus for the 2011 season.)
2011 league champions
This inaugural year of the Far West League culminated with the top five League teams competing in a double-elimination Tournament, hosted by the Humboldt Crabs and played in the Arcata Ball Park, August 5–7. The Humboldt Crabs (21 - 6), with the best record in regular season league play, were the top-seeded team, but lost their first game to fourth-seed Fontanetti's Athletics, 1–0,[23] on August 5. To avoid being eliminated, the Crabs had to win four games in a row. On August 6, the Crabs shut out the Atwater Aviators, 2–0,[24] in an elimination game. On August 7 the Crabs won three games in one day, starting with Fontanetti's Athletics, 7–2,[25] (who had beaten the Crabs 2 of 3 games in regular-season play); then facing the Neptune Beach Pearl who had won 8 of their previous 9 games, and who were as yet undefeated in the Tournament. By winning four in a row, including 6-3[26] and 5-1[27] wins over the Pearl, the Crabs avoided elimination and won the tournament and the championship.[28]
The Humboldt Crabs finished the 2011 season with records of 40–13 overall, 25–7 in League/Conference play.[29]
The Humboldt Crabs rank #22 from among over 220 summer collegiate league teams in the nation for the week of August 9, 2011, by Perfect Game USA.[30]
The Far West League has since disbanded, but the Crabs were league champions all three years in its inception.
Year by year records
(*)denotes California State Semi-Pro Champion
(^) denotes West of the Rockies Tournament Champion
(<) denotes All-American Invitational Champion
(~) denotes season not played due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Class of 2012: Ned Barsuglia, Bob Bonomini, Lou Bonomini, Adam Carr, Steve Fish, Mike Harkey, Dane Iorg, Rico Pastori, Greg Shanahan, Don Terbush, 1985 Team (51 Wins, 3 Losses)
Class of 2015: Fred Papini, Douglas Clayton, Billy Olsen, Lute Barnes, Paul Ziegler, Shane Turner, Scott Eskra, Joe Gerber, Nick Giacone, 2003 Team (43 Wins, 5 Losses)
Class of 2016: Mark Pirrucello, John Oldham, Bruce Benedict, Jim Wilson, Burt Nordstrom, Chris DeBoo, Richard Cates, Jerry Nutter, Elvira Bonomini, 1999 Team (45 Wins, 3 Losses)
Class of 2019: Hans Smith, Wade Hammond, Gregg Reynolds, Eric Gunderson, Al Masterson, Larry Taylor, David Ferres, Ken Dunaway, Joe Gallaty, Mary "Baseball Betty" Lacefield
No Hall of Fame Class of 2020-2023
Class of 2024: TBA
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